Affirmative Action Office at MCC
Focused on Diversity, Equity and Affirmative Action!
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ Community Colleges’ Policy on Affirmative Action,
Equal Opportunity & Diversity has been approved for implementation by the Colleges
and the Board of Higher Education, effective August 1, 2021.
View the Affirmative Action policy in its entirety.
View the Middlesex Community College Student Experience Survey – 2024 Report.
Important Policy Update
Please note the following changes to the College’s Policy on Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity & Diversity:
- Revised Policy (For complaints on August 1, 2024 or after)
Effective August 1, 2024, the revised Policy on Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity & Diversity will take effect. Please find this policy here: Affirmative Action Equal Opportunity and Diversity Policy (2024) - Old Policy (For complaints prior to August 1, 2024)
For incidents occurring before August 1, 2024, our previous policy will apply. Please find the policy here: Affirmative Action Equal Opportunity and Diversity Policy (2021)
The above‑stated policies are intended to be applied broadly with the goal of promoting
equal opportunity and diversity in Community Colleges. The Community Colleges pledge
to apply all policies consistently, fairly, and vigorously. Attempts to subvert or
abuse these policies will not be tolerated. Appropriate disciplinary action will
be taken in the case of an infraction. Such disciplinary action shall be consistent
with the appropriate collective bargaining agreement, if applicable.
All policies are made in compliance with laws and regulations and executive orders
promulgated by the federal and state governments and other appropriate agencies and
authorities, where applicable.
The Affirmative Action Office and Officer:
- Partners with the College community to serve as a consultant in hiring, retention, anti-discrimination, equity and diversity policies;
- Develops, reviews and recommends affirmative action and equal employment opportunity policies and procedures;
- Communicates issues and institutional barriers for underserved and underrepresented groups to the College's administration;
- Responds to, investigates, and resolves discrimination and harassment complaints and grievances.
Middlesex Community College is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, age, veteran status, genetic information, gender identity or sexual orientation in its programs and activities as required by Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and other applicable statutes and college policies. The College prohibits sexual harassment, including sexual violence. Inquiries or complaints concerning discrimination, harassment, retaliation or sexual violence shall be referred to the College’s Affirmative Action and/or Title IX Coordinator, the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission or the United States Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights.
Recruiting and retaining the most talented individuals for faculty, staff and administration positions are college-wide responsibilities. The College seeks candidates of diverse cultural backgrounds and abilities. As an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer, we encourage members of underrepresented groups to apply. The Affirmative Action Office works with hiring managers to develop the pool of talented, diverse candidates to bring to our workforce. Interested candidates are encouraged to contact the Affirmative Action Office directly. To help accomplish this, Middlesex Community College is a member of the New England Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (NE HERC).
Affirmative Action, equal opportunity, equal education, non-discrimination, and diversity, are supported by the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education Community College's Policy on Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity & Diversity. Non-discrimination requires the elimination of all existing unlawful discriminatory conditions whether purposeful or inadvertent. The Board of Higher Education and the Boards of Trustees of the Community Colleges maintain and promote a policy of non-discrimination on the basis of race, creed, religion, color, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, genetic information, maternity leave, military service and national origin ("protected class(s)/classification(s).") It is also the goal of Middlesex Community College to provide a learning, working and living environment for their student, employees and other members of the College Community which values the diverse backgrounds of all people. The College is committed to assuring that the "College Experience" is one that challenges, empowers, supports, and prepares its students to live in, work in, and value our increasingly global and diverse world. The College believes that the diversity of socio-economic, racial, ethnic, religious, gender, sexual orientation, age and disability backgrounds of members of the College community enriches the institution and their various constituencies. The College will not tolerate behavior based on bigotry, which has the effect of discriminating unlawfully against any member of our community.
If you believe you have been subjected to sexual harassment or discrimination, you may file a formal complaint with the governmental agencies set forth below. Filing a complaint under this College Policy does not prohibit you from filing a complaint with these agencies. Each of the agencies has a short time period for filing a claim (EEOC - 300 days; MCAD - 300 days).
United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("EEOC")
One Congress Street
10th Floor Boston, MA 02114
617-565-3200.
The Office For Civil Rights (“OCR”)
U.S. Department of Education
John W. McCormack Post
Office and Courthouse, Room 222
Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination ("MCAD")
Boston Office:
One Ashburton Place
Rm. 601
Boston, MA 02108 617-994-6000
Worcester Office:
Worcester City Hall
484 Main St., Rm. 320
Worcester, MA 01608
508-799-8010
Springfield Office:
436 Dwight St., Rm. 220
Springfield, MA 01103
413-739-2145
New Bedford Office:
800 Purchase St., Rm. 501
New Bedford, MA 02740
508-990-2390
All inquiries and complaints related to affirmative action, nondiscrimination and diversity, including Title VI and Title IX, should be directed to:
Contact the Affirmative Action Officer
Pamela Medina
Compliance Officer
MedinaP@middlesex.edu
781-280-3536